Pay workers’ emoluments now, Tiv youths tell Ortom

TIV Youth Council Worldwide, yesterday, expressed concern over alleged non-payment of workers’ salaries and pension arrears in Benue State.

President of the group, Mike Msuaan, while reacting to the interview granted by Governor Samuel Ortom on his arrival in Makurdi from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention, stated that Benue people had never suffered untold hardship in the history of the state as they were going through under Ortom.

The group maintained that Ortom had no reason to blame paucity of funds over his inability to pay workers’ salaries and pensions or embark on any development project in the state.

It alleged that Ortom was among the governors that refused to implement the new wage for workers, even as the government declared several workers as ghosts, while the wage bill continues to soar.

Urging Ortom to stop the blame game and concentrate on his constitutional responsibilities the group asserted: “It is imperative to state that Ortom has never complained that federal allocation and other billions meant for Benue have been held back for any reason. Yet he has completely failed to even pay workers their salaries and pensions, let alone develop the state. Perhaps, if the Muhammadu Buhari government were anything like the military, he would have forced the Benue governor to pay workers and pensioners.

“We, therefore, counsel the governor to turn a new leaf, become focused and use the remaining years of his tenure to work for the interest of the state,” Msuaan stated.